Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has been sworn in for a new term despite protests from world leaders that rival candidate Alassane Ouattara was the real winner of the country's presidential runoff election.

President Gbagbo was sworn in in a ceremony broadcast on state television, one day after Ivory Coast's Constitutional Council overturned results from the election commission that gave victory to Mr. Ouattara.

Armed forces chief General Philippe Mangou appeared on state-run television saying the military had pledged its allegiance to President Gbagbo.